Aging skin gracefully is a wonderful thing. Looking fantastic while doing it is even better. I have six words for you to help your skin rival that of a girl in her twenties: Vitamin C; Hyaluronic acid; Matrixyl; Argireline; Hydroquinone; Retinol. You’ve probably heard of some of these ingredients, but they are not often combined, forcing you to buy six different bottles. Well, I’ve managed to get all of these in just four.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): A key to producing collagen, the protein that firms and strengthens skin and also takes a hike as we age. Collagen is essential for preserving healthy connective tissue. It firms the skin and helps maintain its youthful appearance. Vitamin C also helps protect the skin from sun damage. The challenge is that you need a fair amount as it is not terribly stable in liquid form. I use a 20% solution, which is one the highest I’ve found, yet it doesn’t irritate my skin.

Hyaluronic Acid: The wrinkle enemy. Created naturally in our bodies, this beneficial little bugger also starts saying hasta la night-night as the clock ticks. Luckily, hyaluronic acid is easily absorbed in the skin. Before topical serums arrived on the market, this complex sugar was used as an injectable to plump the skin. It protects against the sun’s harmful UVB rays and adds moisture and elasticity back into maturing skin. The Skin Scienceis a company that combines hyaluronic acid with the next two skin savers: Matrixyl and Arigerline.

Matrixyl: The best kept secret in skincare, even according to scientists’ published studies in Molecular Pharmaceutics. A powerful peptide-based treatment, this is another collagen booster and the brilliant brainchild of the Sederma Corporation. A recent study from Reading University claims that Matrixyl “can almost double the amount of collagen that the cells in our body produce, provided the concentration is high enough.”

Argireline: Dr. Oz himself touts Argireline as the suggested alternative to Botox. Well, if the cute doc says so, who am I to argue? At a recommended concentration of 5 to 10%, this peptide should be strong enough to penetrate the skin. If you can’t afford the needle, Argireline is your Botox-lite.

Hydroquinone: I visited my dermatologist last year and said I’d like to lighten the brown age spots that have been partying on my skin, sans an invitation. He laughed, because the so-called “spots,” he said, were more like blonde microscopic dots. I disagreed, so he gave me a prescription for hydroquinone 10%. While hydroquinone is the queen of brown spot annhiliation, I do not recommend using a 10% concentration. Let’s just say it mauled my skin with scabby bloody blisters. The doctor’s office did admit that it’s strong and that not all skins respond kindly to it. So I bought a 2% concentration, which I believe is the highest you can buy without a prescription.

Retinol: The mother of all collagen restorers. All-Trans Retinol 2% from NCN Professional Skincare helps restore collagen type I, III (the one we lose in our youth), and IV. Their formula is paraben- and chemical-free.

To get the hyaluronic acid, Matrixyl, Argireline, (and even COQ10, an antioxidant that fights harmful free radicals) all in one, I suggest Active Cell Repair. You can get it at The Skin Science. The best (and most potent) formula for liquid Vitamin C is from Cosmetic Skin Solutions. For the hydroquinone solution, try Murad. Yes, it’s pricey ($60.00), but Murad is a trusted company. Sometimes Sephora or Ulta offer specials on Murad products.

Let me know if you’ve bought any of these formulas and whether they’re working for you. I have truly noticed a tightening of the small lines developing around my eyes, and my brown spots have not worsened.